Published: Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 11:46 a.m.

As the third-oldest in a household of five girls, Washington has a strong attachment to her family, which she credits to her success in the classroom and on the basketball court for Vandebilt.

When it came time to choose a college, the decision was easy for Washington. She wanted to go somewhere close to home with a family-like environment.

Her choice was Nicholls State, and she made it official by signing a national letter-of-intent in front of family, friends, teammates, coaches and administrators during a ceremony held in Vandebilt's Brothers Hall on Wednesday.

Washington said getting the chance to play basketball for Nicholls is a great opportunity.

"It means a lot to my family," she said.

"I know college is expensive, so it helps us out. I'm really happy and fortunate to be able to get a scholarship to play basketball for Nicholls, especially since its close to home where all my teammates and family can come see me play."

Washington will play for Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance, who is the mother of standout Vandebilt center and LSU signee Theresa Plaisance.

"I'm excited to play for Coach DoBee," Washington said.

"She's like family. It's going to be like I'm just going to another family while I'm away from my family, so it's going to be awesome."

Plaisance, who guided the Lady Colonels to a 4-24 overall record last season, said she was thrilled to sign a local player from Vandebilt Catholic.

"(Vandebilt coach) Kathy Luke has done an outstanding job with the girls basketball program for years," Plaisance said.

"She does a great job of installing fundamentals in her players, and I know when we get a Kathy Luke type player, she will definitely be a hard worker, a good student, which is very important, and also very fundamentally sound. I can't say enough about Sybil. I'm really excited about it. She comes from a great family, and she's a quality product from her community. I'm happy to have her at Nicholls State."

Washington, a 5-foot-11 forward who earned All-State honorable mention honors as a senior, played an important role in Vandebilt's run to the Class 4A championship this season, averaging nine points and nine rebounds per game for the Lady Terriers.

Washington, who is academically qualified, also received interest from Xavier University of New Orleans.

Throughout the entire recruiting process, Washington said she has received advice from her older sister, Bethany Washington, a former Vandebilt All-State player, who just completed her senior season at Mississippi State.

She hopes to use the guidance from her older sister, along with the experience of playing for a winning basketball program at Vandebilt, to prepare her for the transition to college basketball.

"I think I'm going to do well if I just do what I'm supposed to do, work hard and never give up," Washington said. "Hopefully I'll be able to do the best I can to contribute to the team."

When Washington first joined the Lady Terriers as an eighth-grader, Luke said she didn't know if Washington was a college prospect. But after years of hard work, Luke said Washington transformed herself into a Division I player.

"It shows you that if you take care of your grades in the classroom and work hard and prepare yourself, then things are possible at the end of the road," Luke said. "That's really what Sybil has done. She's worked hard, she's prepared herself and she's made herself into a good, productive post player. I know what Sybil is made of, so I know she can go (to Nicholls) and get the job done."

With a strong incoming freshmen class that features All-State players KK Babin, of St. Michael's, and Liann McCarthy, of Ursuline Academy, along with the addition of former Vandebilt standout Sumar Leslie, who transferred from Louisiana-Monroe, Washington believes Nicholls could become contenders in the next few seasons.

"I think we can possibly win a lot of games," Washington said. "If we all just stay focused, dedicated and want to win, then we're going to win."

<p>HOUMA — Vandebilt Catholic senior forward Sybil Washington is all about family.</p><p>As the third-oldest in a household of five girls, Washington has a strong attachment to her family, which she credits to her success in the classroom and on the basketball court for Vandebilt.</p><p>When it came time to choose a college, the decision was easy for Washington. She wanted to go somewhere close to home with a family-like environment. </p><p>Her choice was Nicholls State, and she made it official by signing a national letter-of-intent in front of family, friends, teammates, coaches and administrators during a ceremony held in Vandebilt's Brothers Hall on Wednesday.</p><p>Washington said getting the chance to play basketball for Nicholls is a great opportunity.</p><p>"It means a lot to my family," she said. </p><p>"I know college is expensive, so it helps us out. I'm really happy and fortunate to be able to get a scholarship to play basketball for Nicholls, especially since its close to home where all my teammates and family can come see me play." </p><p>Washington will play for Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance, who is the mother of standout Vandebilt center and LSU signee Theresa Plaisance. </p><p>"I'm excited to play for Coach DoBee," Washington said. </p><p>"She's like family. It's going to be like I'm just going to another family while I'm away from my family, so it's going to be awesome."</p><p>Plaisance, who guided the Lady Colonels to a 4-24 overall record last season, said she was thrilled to sign a local player from Vandebilt Catholic. </p><p>"(Vandebilt coach) Kathy Luke has done an outstanding job with the girls basketball program for years," Plaisance said. </p><p>"She does a great job of installing fundamentals in her players, and I know when we get a Kathy Luke type player, she will definitely be a hard worker, a good student, which is very important, and also very fundamentally sound. I can't say enough about Sybil. I'm really excited about it. She comes from a great family, and she's a quality product from her community. I'm happy to have her at Nicholls State."</p><p>Washington, a 5-foot-11 forward who earned All-State honorable mention honors as a senior, played an important role in Vandebilt's run to the Class 4A championship this season, averaging nine points and nine rebounds per game for the Lady Terriers.</p><p>Washington, who is academically qualified, also received interest from Xavier University of New Orleans.</p><p>Throughout the entire recruiting process, Washington said she has received advice from her older sister, Bethany Washington, a former Vandebilt All-State player, who just completed her senior season at Mississippi State. </p><p>She hopes to use the guidance from her older sister, along with the experience of playing for a winning basketball program at Vandebilt, to prepare her for the transition to college basketball. </p><p>"I think I'm going to do well if I just do what I'm supposed to do, work hard and never give up," Washington said. "Hopefully I'll be able to do the best I can to contribute to the team." </p><p>When Washington first joined the Lady Terriers as an eighth-grader, Luke said she didn't know if Washington was a college prospect. But after years of hard work, Luke said Washington transformed herself into a Division I player.</p><p>"It shows you that if you take care of your grades in the classroom and work hard and prepare yourself, then things are possible at the end of the road," Luke said. "That's really what Sybil has done. She's worked hard, she's prepared herself and she's made herself into a good, productive post player. I know what Sybil is made of, so I know she can go (to Nicholls) and get the job done."</p><p>With a strong incoming freshmen class that features All-State players KK Babin, of St. Michael's, and Liann McCarthy, of Ursuline Academy, along with the addition of former Vandebilt standout Sumar Leslie, who transferred from Louisiana-Monroe, Washington believes Nicholls could become contenders in the next few seasons. </p><p>"I think we can possibly win a lot of games," Washington said. "If we all just stay focused, dedicated and want to win, then we're going to win."</p>